How to Travel from Hong Kong to Guangzhou
Hong Kong and Guangzhou are two trading centers and tourism destinations in South China. It is popular for businessmen, travelers, and passengers to travel from Hong Kong to Guangzhou.
In this article, you will learn how to travel to Guangzhou from Hong Kong.
How to Get from Hong Kong to Guangzhou
From Hong Kong to Guangzhou, there are seven ways to go: train, flight, ferry, bus, car, etc. We suggest you take the high-speed train to Guangzhou, which is the most convenient and fastest.
- By high-speed train (most recommended): It takes about 1-2 hours by direct train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. A second-class seat costs about US$32.
- By connected trains (the alternative without direct train): It takes 1-1.5 hours from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and from Shenzhen to Guangzhou by the connected bullet train. The total cost of the second-class seats is about US$25.
- By MTR+train (most complicated): It takes about 3 hours by MTR from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, and then you change to the bullet train from Shenzhen to Guangzhou. The total price is around US$23.
- By flight (good for transit): A flight from Hong Kong to Guangzhou takes around 1 hour; however, the price is about US$150 one way.
- By ferry (unique experience): It takes 1.5 - 2.5 hours to go from Hong Kong port to Guangzhou port, including the route from Hong Kong airport to Guangzhou directly. The fare is around US$30 - US$50 for standard class.
- By bus (most affordable but time-consuming): The bus from Hong Kong to Guangzhou takes 3 - 5 hours, including the service from Hong Kong airport directly to Guangzhou. The one-way ticket is around US$15 - US$37.
- By car (most flexible but expensive): It takes about 3 - 4 hours by private car, which costs around US$600 per way.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou by High-Speed Train
- From - to: Hong Kong West Kowloon Station - Guangzhou South Station/Guangzhou East Station
- Duration: about 1-2 hours
- Price: about US$32 for a second-class seat
- Advantages: It is the fastest way to get to Guangzhou from Hong Kong. There are lots of trains, and they always come on time. Going through customs is easy.
- Disadvantages: Train tickets are sometimes hard to buy, such as on National Day(Oct.1st to 7th).
- How to book: China Travel provides the most convenient and efficient train ticket booking online services. Search and book your tickets now!
Around 33 pairs of high-speed trains operate daily between Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and Guangzhou South Station/Guangzhou East Station, covering a distance of about 141 kilometers (88 miles).
The price of a second-class seat is US$32 (CNY215). The departure time is from 08:06 to 22:50, and the duration is from 46m to 1h42m. The fastest train ride from Hong Kong to Guangzhou South is only 46 minutes.
With the co-location arrangement in Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, entry and exit formalities can be done on the same floor at West Kowloon Station. It saves a lot of hassle and time going through customs.
Note:
1. You should arrive at the West Kowloon Station at least 45 minutes before the train departure.
2. There were Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train before, but now they are suspended.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou by Connected Train
- From - to: Hong Kong West Kowloon Station - Shenzhen North Station/Futian Station - Guangzhou South Station/Guangzhou East Station
- Duration: about 1.5 hours
- Price: about US$22 for a second-class seat
- Advantages: An option if there is no direct train. The price is lower than that of the direct train. Easy for going through customs.
- Disadvantages: To catch the connected train, it's better to leave around 30 minutes for transit. Pay attention to the train station's name in Shenzhen when booking, as there are two stations.
- How to book: China Travel provides the most convenient and worry-free online booking services for train tickets. Search and book your tickets now!
Apart from traveling straight to Guangzhou, it's also possible to get there by transfer via Shenzhen. You could take the fast train to Shenzhen North Station/Futian Station from Hong Kong West Kowloon and then take the connected bullet trains to Guangzhou South/East.
The price is around US$22 for a 2nd class, lasting about 1.5 hours based on the selected train schedule. You only need to do the entry and exit formalities at West Kowloon Station.
Book train tickets to/from the same station. For example, if you book the train from Hong Kong to Shenzhen North, you have to get the connected train from Shenzhen North to Guangzhou.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou by MTR + Bullet Train
- From - to: Hong Kong - Luohu Port- Shenzhen Railway Station - Guangzhou East Station
- Duration: about 3 hours (depending on how fast you get through the border)
- Price: about US$23
- Advantages: An option if you're close to the metro station or Luohu port.
- Disadvantages: Taking the metro first and then changing to the train in Shenzhen is difficult for first-time visitors. Luohu Port is quite busy, which may require long queues.
- How to book: Buy the MTR ticket at the official website or metro station, and book the train ticket with China Travel in advance or at the Shenzhen Railway station after arriving.
If you stay close to the metro station or port, you could take the metro to Lo Wu station first—the northern terminus of the East Rail line of Hong Kong—and then go through the immigration formalities.
Then, go from the Shenzhen Luohu Port to the nearby Shenzhen Railway Station. Finally, take the inter-city train to Guangzhou. It may be a bit complicated if you are not familiar with it.
The price is around US$23 for a metro ticket and a second-class seat. The travel time is about 3 hours. It is based on the time of crossing the border, as Luohu Port is the busiest land border in the world.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou by Flight
- From - to: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) - Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN)
- Duration: 1 hour
- Price: about US$150
- Advantages: Good for catching the connected flight
- Disadvantages: Price is higher.
There are two flights available from Hong Kong to Guangzhou every day. The airfare is about US$150 per way. Usually, it is recommended to take the train or ferry.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou by Ferry
- From - to: Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal/Sky Pier - Guangzhou Panyu Lianhuashan Port/Nansha Passenger Port
- Duration: about 1.5 - 2.5 hours
- Price: about US$30 - US$50
- Advantages: Different sea view than the land tour, suitable for the passengers arriving in HK by air
- Disadvantages: It may be suspended due to bad weather, it takes around 1 hour by bus/taxi from the port to downtown after arriving in Guangzhou
- How to book: Ferry Terminal
You can enjoy the scenery along the sea trip by ferry from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, about 1.5 - 2.5 hours.
Two piers sail to Guangzhou: the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal in Kowloon and Sky Pier in the Hong Kong airport. Sky Pier serves passengers who use Hong Kong International Airport, while the Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal serves all kinds of people.
Around 8 departures from downtown and 5 departures from Hong Kong Airport daily. The price of a standard ticket is about US$30 - US$50. The departure time is from 07:45 to 18:40. The duration is from 46m to 1h43m.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou by Bus
- From - to: Hong Kong Bus pick-up point - Guangzhou Bus drop-off point
- Duration: about 3 - 5 hours (depending on how fast you get through the border and road traffic )
- Price: about US$15 - US$37
- Advantages: Lots of buses daily with different pick-up places, the price may be the cheapest.
- Disadvantages: Longest time consuming, carrying the luggage from one bus to another and getting through the border on foot
Taking the bus is another option if you are on a budget and have enough time. Many coaches operate between these two cities every day, with different bus terminals, such as Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tsim Sha Tsui, etc.
First, check which pick-up/drop-off is closest to your place, and then take the bus to the port. After going through the immigration formalities, you will board another coach from the same company in Shenzhen. Then, you will travel to Guangzhou in another 1 - 2 hours.
The trip takes 3 to 5 hours, depending on how fast you cross the border and the traffic. Please note that you have to get off the bus with your luggage changed to another and go through immigration on foot. The single-way ticket costs around US$15 - US$37.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou by Private Car
- From - to: Anywhere you want
- Duration: about 3 - 4 hours (depending on how fast you get through the border and road traffic)
- Price: about US$600
- Advantages: Most flexible and worry-free
- Disadvantages: the most expensive, longer than taking the train
- How to book: a reliable agency like China Trave
It is also possible to travel by private car, which is relatively expensive but the most flexible. If you come to Guangzhou for business or are a team, it may suit you better. The price is around US$600 for your reference.
Hong Kong to Guangzhou Visa
If you plan to travel to Guangzhou from Hong Kong, you usually need to apply for a visa in advance. You can get your visa in your country before traveling or apply for it after arriving in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, you can enjoy a visa-free policy if you're qualified
- Passport holders from 53 countries enjoy 72-hour and 144-hour visa-free transit.
- Travelers from Singapore, Brunei, and Japan can enter Guangzhou for up to 15 days without visas, while Qatar citizens can enter Guangzhou for less than 30 days.
- Group visitors with a registered travel agency enjoy a 6-day Visa Exemption from Hong Kong to Guangzhou.
- APEC Business Travel Card Holders
- Holders of Aliens' Residence Permits